Antigen-specific T suppressor factor acts indirectly by arming a T acceptor cell which releases a nonspecific inhibitor of transfer of contact sensitivity and of DNA synthesis when exposed to antigen

Abstract

Mononuclear cell populations were enumerated in healthy young adults with or without the histocompatibility antigen HLA-B8. Mononuclear cell counts were lower in subjects with HLA-B8, as was reflected in lower absolute numbers of the cell subsets. When cell populations were compared as percentages of total mononuclear cells, subjects with HLA-B8 had significantly more B lymphocytes bearing IgM than did subjects without HLA-B8. The T4T8 ratio was significantly increased in subjects with HLA-B8, due both to increases in OKT4 + cells and to decreases in OKT8 + cells. B-Lymphocyte function was compared in subjects with and without HLA-B8 by measuring pokeweed mitogen driven differentiation of B cells to IgM bearing blasts, and was significantly greater in subjects with HLA-B8. Subjects with HLA-B8 were also found to have decreased Con A-induced suppression. Alterations in lymphocyte subsets and lymphocyte functions may underlie the predisposition to autoimmunity associated with HLA-B8.